Volume One, Chapter 15: This Damn Possessiveness!

The next day, He Yunshen slept in late. When he finally checked his phone, it was already ten in the morning. He rubbed his still groggy head, remembering that there had been an important meeting at nine.

Knock, knock, knock—

Who could be knocking so early? Instinctively, he thought it might be Shen Zhi back.

“I knew it, you can’t stay stubborn for even one night...”

To his surprise, when He Yunshen proudly opened the door, it was Zhou Qin standing there.

“What are you doing here?” His expression instantly stiffened, a hint of displeasure as though his territory had been invaded.

“I... I couldn’t reach you through work channels. There’s a meeting...”

“I know. You should go back.”

Bang!

It was the first time He Yunshen had shown Zhou Qin such a cold face, leaving her momentarily confused. More importantly, she wanted to ask why he had blocked her, turned off his phone, and disappeared all morning.

“Yunshen, I’m sorry. Yesterday was my fault. I won’t throw a tantrum again...”

The door was pulled open, and He Yunshen’s attitude suddenly shifted. He nonchalantly straightened his clothes and stepped out.

“It’s nothing to do with you. I just wanted to sleep peacefully.”

Seeing the change in his demeanor, Zhou Qin didn’t press further and quietly followed him out. The issue of being blocked would have to wait until after the company matters were settled.

As they approached the Maybach, Zhou Qin instinctively reached for the front passenger door but was stopped by a look from He Yunshen, causing her to retreat obediently to the back seat.

“Yunshen...”

“Brief me on today’s meeting.”

He didn’t want to engage in conversation, slipping into his usual cold, work-focused mode.

When Zhou Qin remained silent, he impatiently urged, “What? Do you want me to go to the conference room and review the agenda now?”

Snapping back to attention, Zhou Qin quickly reported the meeting details and the attending corporate figures.

“Good job.”

After that, a heavy silence filled the car. Zhou Qin didn’t speak again, and He Yunshen put on his communication headset, focusing fully on discussing business with the esports company’s assistant.

Soon, the car pulled into the company. He Yunshen headed directly to the conference room while Zhou Qin responsibly prepared for the meeting.

“Sorry to keep everyone waiting!”

***

After the meeting ended, He Yunshen finally exhaled deeply and leaned back in his office chair, rubbing his eyes with them tightly shut.

“Yunshen...”

A sudden voice startled him awake. Looking up, he saw Zhou Qin and composed himself before saying, “Next time you come into my office, remember to knock.”

Zhou Qin thought He Yunshen had changed completely overnight. He never spoke to her with such coldness before.

So she resorted to her usual tactics: tears, complaints, and distress.

Though he had overslept, he still felt drowsy. He Yunshen closed his eyes to rest and vaguely heard sobbing.

When he opened them, Zhou Qin was still there, her tears streaking down her face, looking pitiful. He was somewhat surprised.

“What’s wrong?”

Seeing he finally paid attention, Zhou Qin feigned grievance, “I’m sorry. It’s my fault.”

“You’re not at fault. I just didn’t rest well last night and am in a bad state. If I spoke harshly, don’t take it to heart.”

Hearing this, Zhou Qin was secretly delighted—that was the He Yunshen she knew! How could he be angry at her?

“Are you in a bad mood?”

She poured him a glass of water and offered it with a pitiful look.

“Nothing serious. Just couldn’t sleep.”

Noticing Zhou Qin’s worried gaze fixed on his phone, He Yunshen suddenly recalled that he had blocked her last night because she was making noise.

“Oh, I had some drinks last night. I didn’t say anything too harsh, did I?”

As they talked, he took out his phone and removed Zhou Qin from the blacklist.

He hadn’t planned to explain, nor did he want to deal with her fussing, but he gave a reason anyway. After all, women were easy to appease in his eyes.

“No, it’s my fault for being noisy. I didn’t realize you needed to rest. I’ll be more careful.”

“It’s just my bad state. Not your fault.”

After speaking, He Yunshen turned his attention back to his computer, his expression calm as usual.

Zhou Qin wanted to say more but feared upsetting him and being blocked again, so she decided to hold back.

“Well, you get back to work.”

With that, she tactfully withdrew.

Once she left, He Yunshen leaned back and sighed. He understood what women needed, but right now, he had no mood to placate her.

Thinking this, he hastily opened his phone. Upon opening the chat, he realized the last notification he heard last night was actually from Shen Zhi.

He slapped his forehead—he had forgotten that he had blocked Zhou Qin, so how could he have thought it was her?

“Anything?”

The message from Shen Zhi was brief—just two words and a cold emoji.

Suddenly, He Yunshen felt a chill. So this was the first time he had been so anxious about her, and she replied with just that?

“No, it’s nothing. As long as you’re happy.”

Unable to help himself, he replied. Soon, a response came.

“I’m out of town lately. Don’t contact me unless it’s important.”

Out of town?

He Yunshen was puzzled. Shen Zhi had no family left in this world. Where else could she be?

Could it be that she was traveling with Fu Nanfeng?

“Doesn’t matter!”

Thinking this, He Yunshen replied irritably and placed his phone face down on the desk, staring blankly at it.

Minutes passed without any further notification.

He thought he must be crazy to care so much about Shen Zhi’s whereabouts.

Or maybe he was just used to having her within his sight.

Damn this possessiveness!

“Yunshen...”

Snapped out of his daze by a sudden voice, he felt exasperated.

“Didn’t I say, knock before entering my office?”

Zhou Qin pursed her lips and looked down to report, “President Jiang’s call...”

Then she removed her finger from the speakerphone and handed the phone over.

He Yunshen paused, suddenly realizing he had probably muted the phone earlier, then took it and answered.

It was President Jiang trying to arrange a game of basketball but couldn’t reach him, so the call came to Zhou Qin.

“Xiao He, your business must be busier than ever. I have to book in advance to play a game with you.”

“Oh, no, President Jiang, you flatter me... Alright, it’s settled then.”

After hanging up, the smile on He Yunshen’s face faded. He glanced at Zhou Qin, feeling he shouldn’t have taken out his bad mood on her.

He had lost his temper.

So he invited her to eat together after work.

“Let’s have dinner together after work.”

“Sure!”

Zhou Qin agreed immediately, her face lighting up with a bright smile.